Belt type isotonic exercising device

ABSTRACT

An exercising device for carrying out isotonic exercises wherein a rod is connected to the under side of a curved base strip by a pair of flat straps, which are rolled on themselves on the rod, is gripped by a user with a material which slips, and the rod is moved away from the base strip with the straps taut. The rod rotates in the material and the straps unroll from the rod. The force required to move the rod is regulated by the strength of the friction developed which is in proportion to the grip of the user.

UnitedStates Patent [191' I 3, 1 l9,6l4 l/l964 Berry 272/79 R Kam 7 June19 1973 [54] BELT TYPE ISOTONIC EXERCISING 2,187,987 1/1940 Sherrick272/67 DEVICE 7 3,068,003 1'2/1962 Portman et al. 272/79 R r Lddl, [75]Inventor t- Kamp Fort au Prima y Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham V AssistantExamiher-William R. Browne [731' Assignee: Thomas J. Perri, PembrokePines, ArmmeySettle, & Oltman Fla. a part interest [22] Filed: June 10,1971 57 S R [21] Appl. No.: 151,766 An exercising device for carryingout isotonic exercises wherein a rod is connected to the under side of a[5 us. Cl 272/79 R 272/68 272/DIG 3 curved base strip by a pair'of flatstraps, which are [51]- 21/30 A63b 21/00 rolled on themselves on therod, is gripped by a user [58] Fie'ld 2.12/79 82 83 R with amaterialwhich slips, and the rod is moved away I 6 from the base strip with thestraps taut. The rod rotates V in the material and the straps unrollfrom the rod. The [56] I Refernces Cited force required to move the rodis regulated by the V strength of the friction developed which isimproper- UMTED STATES PATENTS tion to the grip of the user. 3,117,781l/l964 Vargo ..l 272/79 R 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEB 3, 740.033

INVENTOR.

CRAIG D. KAMR BY SETTLE 8 OLTMAN.

A1TT'YS.

BELT TYPE ISOTONIC EXERCISING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONExercising with weights, although effective, involves considerableinconvenience and sometimes takes more time than is available to theperson exercising. In order to exercise in the home, the person needs aset of v weights which can be relatively bulky and takes up considerablespace in storage. It is sometimes necessary to change the arrangement ofthe weights, for example, to add more weight to a bar bell or tosubtract weight. This takes time and is incovenient. It is notconvenient for a person to travel and take conventional weight liftingequipment with him.

For these arid other reasons, it would be desirable to have a highlyeffective exercising device which would exercise the muscles of a personin a manner similar to weight lifting, but which would be easier to use,more portable, and take less storage space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an exercisingdevice in which the effort expended by the user in carrying out isotonicexercises is controlled by the strength of his grip on a rod which ismanipulated in much the same manner as-a bar bell. The rod is connectedto a base strip by a pair of straps, and the user in many exercisesstands on the base strip and forces the rod away from the base stripwhile the straps unroll from the rod. The straps are taut, and therodrotates in the hands of the user. An important element of the apparatusis material with which the user grips the rod with a slipping grip. Thismaterial may be gloves or sleeves. As the rod rotates in the hands ofthe user, it slips relative to the gloves, and by controlling thestrength of his grip, the user regulates the amount of effort needed toforce the rod away from the base strip. The gloves are made of I amaterial such as leather which allows the metal rod to slip with adesired degree of friction so that the grip can properly control theeffort needed to carry out the exercise.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anisotonic exercising device which operates on agrip slippage principleand which is'r'egulated by the grip of the'user. I i

Another object of the invention is to provide an isotonic exercisingdevice which is safe, convenient, and portable. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an isotonic exercisingdevice which can be used by one per-.

' of the grip of the user on the rod.

Other ojbects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of anexercising device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a person carrying out an isotonic exercise withthe device of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the exercising device of FIG. 1.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable. of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose 'of description and not of limitation.

AS SHOWN ON THE DRAWINGS The exercising device 10 includes a relativelylong,

narrow base strip 12 which is preferably made of metal. The The basestrip has its center curved upwardly to provide a space 14 under thestrip 12 when the strip isresting on a surface such as the floor 16. Thebase strip 12 is preferably made of metal such as steel, although othermaterials are possible.

A straight rod 20, which is approximately the same length as the basestrip 12, is connected to the base strip by a pair of narrow, elongated,flat straps 22 and 24. The rod 20 may besolid or hollow as desired. Ithas smooth, continuous circular surfaces. The rod 20 is preferably madeof metal such as steel, although other materials are possible.

The straps 22 and 24 are spaced laterally a distance sufficient .toallow the body of the user to fit between the straps as shown in FIG. 2.The upper ends of the straps are secured to the rod as w-ithrivets. Thestraps are rolled upon themselves in the manner shown at 26 and 28 sothat the rod can be forced away from the base strip with the straps tautand unrolling from the rod. The lower ends of the straps are secured tofastening means 30 and 32 which are preferably U bolts as shown. TheU-bolts 30 and 32 have nuts such as 34 threaded onto the lower ends ofthe bolts in the space 14 beneath the base strip '12, and the nuts andbolt ends fit appropriately in the space under the curved base strip.The bolts extend through the base strip and may have other nuts 36threaded thereon to tighten the boltsrelative to the base strips. Thelower ends of the straps 22 and 24 are looped around the upper ends ofthe bolts 30 and 32 as shown at 38 and are stitched to the body of thestraps so as to secure the straps to the bolts. The lower ends of thestraps and the upperends of the straps are spaced at the same distanceso that the straps are parallel to each other.

An important element of the apparatus or device is material for grippingthe rod such as a pair of gloves 40. The gloves are worn by the user sothat he can control the effort which is requiredto carry out isotonicexercises. The gloves are preferebly made of leather or other materialwhich will have sufficient friction relative to the metal rod 20 to madeit possible to retard rotation of the rod by gripping the rod and yetallow the rod to slip in the gloves. At least the palm side of the gloveis made of this material. The straps 22 and 24 may be made of anyflexible webbing material, preferably fabric. An alternative to glovesis a sleeve of leather or the like which fits on the rod with a slipfit. A sleeve may be provided on each end of the rod.

The user is shown carrying out a curl exercise in FIG. 2. It will beunderstood that many other exercises can be carried out using theapparatus in the same manner as bar bells are used. In most exercises,the user stands on the base strip 12 with his feet between the bolts 30and 32 as shown in FIG. 2, but it is to be understood that the basestrip could be hooked under a bench for ceive the body of the userbetween the same, said one ends of said straps being wound entirely uponthemselves in rolls on said rod in which each tum of each strap exceptthe first turn is entirely on top of the underlying turn and coextensivetherewith to balance the forces on said rod, and a separate slipmaterial for use by the user for gripping the rod, said materialoffering little frictional resistance to permit slipping of said rodquired to unroll the straps from the rolls 26 and 28,

thus allowing the rod to move upward. The amount of effort required tocarry out the exercise is regulated by the strength with which the usergrips the rod. Thus, the principle of the device is based on gripslippage.

Many different exercises can be carried out in a manner'similar to thatdescribed above. Examples are toe raises, dead lift, upright row, press,French curl, squat, bench press and others. The device is relativelylight and can be moved easily from place to place. The grip is developedwith every exercise. The upward curve of the base fits the arch of thefoot for comfort when'barefoot, and also provides space for thefastening means. Effort is regulated by the grip, so there is no need tochange weights. Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. Anexercising device for carrying out isotonic exercises, comprising a longand narrow base strip, a straight smooth metal rod, a pair of narrowelongated flat straps secured at one end to said rod and at the otherend to said base strip and spaced uniformly at saidends to rewhen saidrod is moved continuously away from said base with the straps taut andwith the rod rotating in the material and the strap rolls unrolling fromthemselves and the rod, the force required to move the rod beingregulated by the grip of the user, said striphaving a .cross-section inthe form of an upwardly curved arch including a convex curved surface onthe upper side of said arch to fit the foot of the user and a concavecurved surface on the lower side of said arch to receive a fasteningmeans for fastening the lower ends of the straps and said arched basestrip having a dome shaped space underneath the same in which the lowerends of the strap fastening means are fixedly connected to said strip.

2; The exercising device as claimed in claim 1 in which said fasteningmeans comprises U- bolts having nuts under said base strip in said spaceand extending through said base strip and above the same to provideloops having said other ends of said straps secured thereto.

7 3. The exercising device as claimed in claim 1 in which said basestrip and said rod each consist of metal, and said straps beingcomprised of fabric webbing.

4. The exercising device as'claimed in claim 3 in which said slipmaterial is in the shape of gloves.

5. The exercising device as claimed in claim 4 including bolting meansfastening said straps to said base strip.

1. An exercising device for carrying out isotonic exercises, comprisinga long and narrow base strip, a straight smooth metal rod, a pair ofnarrow elongated flat straps secured at one end to said rod and at theother end to said base strip and spaced uniformly at said ends toreceive the body of the user between the same, said one ends of saidstraps being wound entirely upon themselves in rolls on said rod inwhich each turn of each strap except the first turn is entirely on topof the underlying turn and coextensive therewith to balance the forceson said rod, and a separate slip material for use by the user forgripping the rod, said material offering little frictional resistance topermit slipping of said rod when said rod is moved continuously awayfrom said base with the straps taut and with the rod rotating in thematerial and the strap rolls unrolling from themselves and the rod, theforce required to move the rod being regulated by the grip of the user,said strip having a crosssection in the form of an upwardly curved archincluding a convex curved surface on the upper side of said arch to fitthe foot of the user and a concave curved surface on the lower side ofsaid arch to receive a fastening means for fastening the lower ends ofthe straps and said arched base strip having a dome shaped spaceunderneath the same in which the lower ends of the strap fastening meansare fixedly connected to said strip.
 2. The exercising device as claimedin claim 1 in which said fastening means comprises U-bolts having nutsunder said base strip in said space and extending through said basestrip and above the same to provide loops having said other ends of saidstraps secured thereto.
 3. The exercising device as claimed in claim 1in which said base strip and said rod each consist of metal, and saidstraps being comprised of fabric webbing.
 4. The exercising device asclaimed in claim 3 in which said slip material is in the shape ofgloves.
 5. The exercising device as claimed in claim 4 including boltingmeans fastening said straps to said base strip.